PGA Tour players 'united in fight' against LIV Golf, says Davis Love III

Presidents Cup captain Davis Love III admitted he is surprised by how many players left the PGA Tour to join the LIV Golf Series but said those who have remained are "united" in a fight against the new circuit.

Love, who on Tuesday named Steve Stricker and Webb Simpson as his final assistant captains for next month's team event against the Internationals, said he was shocked LIV Golf's record rich purses lured away so many top PGA players.

"I told my own tournament, don't worry about it, not going to happen. (Phil) Mickelson's going down, but nobody else will jump ship," Love said. "So I was wrong.

"I don't know what's going to happen from here on out, but I know it's going to be a fight and the players are getting more and more unified against it."

LIV Golf staged its third $25 million event last week in New Jersey with Sweden's Henrik Stenson winning on his debut after being stripped of Europe's 2023 Ryder Cup captaincy.

Others who made the move include Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Louis Ooosthuizen and Mickelson.

Love said last week he could see players banding together and boycotting major events that allow LIV Golf players to compete.

As he prepared for this week's PGA Wyndham Championship, Love said he only meant to remind PGA players of the power they have in a tough situation.

Henrik Stenson won on his LIV Golf debut, 10 days after being stripped of Europe's Ryder Cup captaincy over his decision to join the circuit. AP

"Nobody saw the extent of LIV coming. It's hard to not be reactionary to something when you're blindsided," Love said. "If the LIV guys sue and are allowed to play on the PGA Tour, the players are enough fed up with it ... we